Definition
The total usable distance of a runway available for takeoff or landing, measured from threshold to threshold and published in feet on airport diagrams and in the Chart Supplement.
Plain English
How long the runway is — the amount of paved (or surfaced) distance you have to use for getting airborne or stopping after landing.
Context Anchor
Seen in takeoff and landing planning, especially when checking whether the airplane’s weight is suitable for the runway available.
Why Pilots Care
It determines the maximum allowable takeoff weight; insufficient length can result in runway overrun or failure to become airborne.
Intuition Check
Runway length does not mean every bit of pavement you can see near the runway. Here it means the usable distance available for the takeoff or landing being planned.
Example Sentence 1
After checking the performance chart, the pilot confirmed the 3,200-foot runway length was enough for a safe takeoff at the current weight and temperature.
Example Sentence 2
A 4,000-foot runway length restricted the aircraft to a lower takeoff weight on the hot afternoon.